Plush Crochet Lion Amigurumi Free Pattern
There is something undeniably magical about crocheting a lion. Maybe it is the wild mane that frames the face, or the way those round button eyes seem to hold a tiny spark of personality. Whatever the reason, lion amigurumi have become one of the most beloved projects in the crochet community, and this plush crochet lion amigurumi free pattern is here to walk you through every step of making your very own soft, squishy, incredibly huggable lion from scratch.
Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a weekend project or someone who has just learned the basics and wants to try something a little more adventurous, this pattern is designed with you in mind. We will cover everything from materials and abbreviations to detailed round-by-round instructions for each body part, plus tips for assembly and finishing touches that will make your lion look like it belongs in a boutique toy shop.
So grab your hook, pull out your favorite yarn, and let’s bring this little king of the jungle to life.
Why You Will Love Making This Lion Amigurumi
Before we dive into the actual pattern, let’s talk about what makes this project so satisfying. Amigurumi — the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed animals — is beloved for good reason. The projects are compact, they use relatively little yarn, and the finished products are objects of pure joy. A lion, in particular, is a wonderful choice because the mane gives you a built-in opportunity to play with texture and color. You can keep the mane a warm golden yellow for a classic look, or go wild with rust, caramel, burnt orange, and cream for a more dimensional effect.
This pattern uses a plush yarn or a standard worsted weight yarn depending on the look you are going for. Plush yarn creates that irresistibly soft, velvety finish that is especially popular in modern amigurumi. If you have ever seen those impossibly fluffy stuffed animals and wondered how people make them, the answer is almost always plush or chenille yarn. That said, if plush yarn is new to you, keep in mind that it can be a little trickier to work with since you cannot always see your stitches as clearly. We will talk about tips for working with it as we go.
Materials You Will Need
To complete this plush crochet lion amigurumi, gather the following supplies before you start:
Yarn: Approximately 150–200 yards of plush or chunky chenille yarn in a golden yellow or tawny orange for the body, head, limbs, and tail. You will also need a smaller amount of the same or a slightly darker shade for the mane. A tiny bit of cream or off-white for the inner ear and muzzle area is optional but gives a lovely realistic touch. A small amount of brown or tan for the nose detail is also useful.
Hook: A 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm crochet hook works well for most plush yarns. Check the yarn label and adjust accordingly. The goal is a tight enough gauge that your stuffing will not show through the stitches.
Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill, enough to firmly stuff the head and body. A firmly stuffed amigurumi holds its shape much better over time.
Eyes: Two 12 mm safety eyes. If you are making this for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes instead for safety.
Tapestry needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.
Stitch markers: To mark the beginning of each round.
Scissors: A sharp pair for cutting yarn cleanly.
Optional: A small amount of black embroidery floss for the nose and mouth details, and a little blush or pink chalk for rosy cheeks if you like that look.
Abbreviations and Stitches Used
This pattern uses US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference:
MR — Magic ring (also called magic circle)
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining loops)
BLO — Back loop only
FLO — Front loop only
st(s) — Stitch or stitches
rnd — Round
All rounds are worked in a continuous spiral unless otherwise noted. Use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round.
Gauge
With plush yarn and a 4.5 mm hook, approximately 12 single crochets and 14 rows equal 4 inches (10 cm). Gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but consistent tension will keep your pieces looking neat and uniform.
The Head
The head is the focal point of your lion, so we start here.
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, inc repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6: Sc 4, inc repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 7: Sc 5, inc repeat around. (42 sts)
Round 8: Sc 6, inc repeat around. (48 sts)
Rounds 9–16: Sc in each st around. (48 sts) — 8 rounds even
Round 17: Sc 6, dec repeat around. (42 sts)
Round 18: Sc 5, dec repeat around. (36 sts)
At this point, insert your safety eyes between rounds 12 and 13, approximately 8–10 stitches apart. If you are using embroidered eyes, you will add these after stuffing.
Round 19: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 20: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)
Stuff the head firmly with fiberfill now. Continue to add stuffing as you close the remaining rounds.
Round 21: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 22: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 23: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use your tapestry needle to close the remaining opening by weaving through the front loops of each remaining stitch and pulling tight. Weave in the end.
The Muzzle
The muzzle gives your lion that adorable pushed-forward snout look.
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the muzzle. Using your tapestry needle and black embroidery floss, embroider a small Y-shape or inverted triangle for the nose and mouth on the flat surface of the muzzle before attaching it to the head. Center the muzzle on the face between rounds 10 and 15, just below the eyes, and sew it on firmly.
The Ears (Make Two)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Do not stuff the ears. Fold each ear flat and sew closed along the bottom opening. Position each ear on the top of the head approximately 5–6 stitches from the center and sew firmly in place. If you are using the optional cream yarn for the inner ear, you can surface embroider a small oval onto the inner face of each ear before attaching them.
The Body
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, inc repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6: Sc 4, inc repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 7: Sc 5, inc repeat around. (42 sts)
Rounds 8–18: Sc in each st around. (42 sts) — 11 rounds even
Round 19: Sc 5, dec repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 20: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 21: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)
Round 22: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)
Stuff the body firmly. Continue to add stuffing as you close up.
Round 23: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 24: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 25: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off and close, same as the head. Weave in the end.
The Front Legs (Make Two)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rounds 3–4: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 5: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (8 sts)
Rounds 6–14: Sc in each st around. (8 sts) — 9 rounds even
Stuff lightly, leaving the top portion unstuffed so it flattens easily for sewing. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Flatten the top and sew closed.
The Back Legs (Make Two)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
Round 5: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rounds 6–12: Sc in each st around. (12 sts) — 7 rounds even
Stuff lightly. Fasten off, flatten the top, and sew closed, leaving a long tail for attachment.
The Tail
Round 1: MR, 4 sc into ring. (4 sts)
Rounds 2–14: Sc in each st around. (4 sts) — 13 rounds even
For the tuft at the end of the tail, cut approximately 8–10 short lengths of yarn (about 3 inches each) and attach them through the tip of the tail using a lark’s head knot technique. Trim to a tidy pom-pom shape. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing to the body.
Making the Mane
The mane is what transforms a plain round head into an unmistakably lion-like face, and it is honestly one of the most fun parts of the whole project. There are a few different approaches, and you can choose the one that appeals to you most.
Method One — Yarn Loop Mane: Using your darker mane color and a tapestry needle, cut lengths of yarn approximately 4–5 inches long. Use a crochet hook to pull each piece through a stitch around the face in a loop knot, similar to adding fringe. Work in a circle around the face starting from approximately round 6 and going around to about round 12, keeping the loops clustered densely around the sides and back of the head. Trim to even lengths if needed.
Method Two — Crocheted Flower Mane: Work a series of small crochet rosettes or simple petal flowers in your mane color and sew them densely around the face in the same ring area. This method gives a very structured, stylized mane that photographs beautifully.
Method Three — Brushed Fringe: If you are working with a yarn that has some give to it, you can attach longer loops and then gently brush them out with a slicker brush or pet brush to create a soft, fluffy halo effect. This pairs especially well with mohair blend yarn used only for the mane against a solid plush body.
Whichever method you choose, the general placement is the same: frame the face from the top of the head, around the sides, and meeting at the chin, leaving the front face fully visible. Aim for density over sparseness — a full, thick mane always looks more impressive.
Assembling Your Lion
Assembly is where all those individual pieces come together into a real character, and it is worth taking your time here.
Start by attaching the head to the body. Position the head so it sits slightly forward on the body rather than perfectly centered on top — this gives the lion a more natural, friendly posture. Use a tapestry needle and a length of yarn to sew through multiple stitches on both the head and the body, going back and forth several times to create a secure join. Always check that the head is facing forward before you commit to the final stitches.
Next, attach the front legs. Position them on either side of the lower neck area, roughly at rounds 4–6 of the body. Sew each one firmly, making sure the paws point forward and outward at a slight angle so your lion can “sit” in a stable position.
Attach the back legs at the widest part of the body’s sides, near rounds 14–16. These should point slightly outward and downward to give your lion a seated posture.
Finally, attach the tail at the back of the body near the base. You can curve it upward slightly for extra expressiveness.
Finishing Touches
Once everything is assembled, stand back and take a look at your lion from different angles. Fluff the mane if needed. Add a small blush to the cheeks by gently rubbing pink chalk or eyeshadow onto the yarn with a cotton ball. This tiny detail makes an enormous difference in bringing warmth and character to the face.
If the safety eyes look a little flat, you can press down gently around them with your fingernail or a blunt tool to create a slight dimple in the yarn around the eye, which makes the eyes appear to sit more naturally.
Weave in all remaining ends securely. Give your lion a gentle squeeze to check the stuffing — if any parts feel lumpy, you can massage them through the yarn to redistribute the fiberfill.
Tips for Working With Plush Yarn
Since plush yarn can obscure your stitches, many crocheters find it helpful to count rounds and stitches by feel rather than sight. Run your fingers along each round to feel where one stitch ends and the next begins. Bright lighting also helps. If you find yourself getting frustrated, try holding the work up to a light source — sometimes a little backlight helps you see the stitch structure more clearly.
Use a hook one size smaller than the yarn label suggests for amigurumi. A tighter fabric means less stuffing shows through and a more polished final result.
Because plush yarn is so soft, your finished lion will look even better after a gentle fluffing. Once the project is complete, run your fingers through all the yarn surfaces to lift and separate the fibers. This restores any plushness that was compressed during crocheting and gives the piece that store-bought softness everyone loves.
Customizing Your Lion
One of the greatest joys of amigurumi is how easily you can make a pattern your own. Here are a few ideas for personalizing your lion:
Change the color palette entirely. A white lion with a silver mane makes a stunning, ethereal piece. A dark chocolate brown lion with a black mane is dramatic and bold. Soft lavender
